Thursday, April 12, 2012

Thursday, April 12 ~ Miriam

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 15-17.
Today's scripture focus is John 6:60-71.

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[a] and they are life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”
 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
   67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)


Verse 63 really spoke to me as I read today.  "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.  The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.  Yet there are some of you who do not believe."  This makes me think of the Mary and Martha story where Jesus tells Martha that Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her.  Who finds themselves putting worldly, fleshly, temporary things ahead of the spiritual things that last forever?  My hand is up.  Anybody else?

Of course we should enjoy the here and now and not take God's earthly blessings for granted.  But too often we allow these things to prevent us from keeping the stuff that really matters, the things that last forever, the treasures in heaven, to keep their important place in our thoughts and attitudes and actions.

Happy Thursday!

Tomorrow's scripture focus:  John 7:1-9.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 1 Samuel 18-20; Psalm 11 & 59.

1 comment:

Tammy said...

So true Miriam, thank you.